Device for shutting-off and regulating a gas-flow for heating, burning and/or cooking purposes



Dec. 27, 1955 w, HQMANN 2,728,385

DEVICE FOR SHUTTING-OFF AND REGULATING A GAS-FLOW FOR HEATING, BURNING AND/OR COOKING PURPOSES Filed Oct. 5, 1950 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet].

W. HOMANN FF AND REGULATING A GAS 2,728,385 FLOW SES DEVICE FOR SHUTTING-O FOR HEATING. BURNING AND/OR COOKING PURPO Filed Oct. 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n N m N w 6 MW m 6 I 5 3 A z 4 a W w m 1H 0 9 6 4 9 M a J 3 2 .9 F 1 0 A. \\l.\l|J- n I: a b m u 4 1 %V H 1 x u w w d 2 5 M 4/forneY9 United States Patent DEVICE FOR SHUTTING-GFF AND REGULATING A GAS-FLOW FOR HEATING, BURNING AND/ OR COOKING PURPOSES Willy Homann, Wuppertal-Vohwinkel, Germany Application October 3, 1950, Serial No. 188,249 14 Claims. (Cl. 158-118) The invention relates to a device for shutting-off and regulating a gas flow for heating, burning and/or cooking purposes. The arrangement of a nozzle in such devices is already known, through which a jet of the gas passes near an opening leading to the open air, so that this gas jet draws in air. The mixture of gas and air then passes through a gradually widening tube, which is usually called a mixing tube, in which the gas is mixed with the air, whereupon this combustible mixture passes from the burner or mixing tube by ignition and combustion. Usually this combustible mixture rapidly draws further air from the mixing-tube or burner, which will be referred to hereafter as the secondary air as distinct from the first-mentioned primary air.

An essential condition for such a device lies in that the gas always draws in a sufiicient mass of air, so that complete combustion, with little or no loss as CO, is assured. The air surplus necessary for complete combustion must on the other hand he as small as possible in order to reach the highest possible temperature of combustion. The air and especially the primary air, which is drawn from outside by means of the nozzle, must have mixed so completely with the gas before ignition and burning, that a high flame-temperature is produced by a non-luminous and relatively short flame.

These conditions are not completely fulfilled in the known devices for shutting off and controlling a gas flow for heating, burning and/or cooking purposes. In all these devices, the required object is certainly fulfilled with the maximum size of flame, that is to say with the gas full on. It is difficult to accomplish this with the small flame using low gas consumption. However, a satisfactory solution can be attained, although by additional expense and apparatus, by which the device becomes very complicated. The known devices have the disadvantage, however, that the problem of complete combustion with non-luminous flames and high temperature in the intermediate setting of the closure and control device, between the highest setting and the lowest setting, is not or is quite unsatisfactorily solved.

The ability of the entering gas flow to draw in air for burning, depends essentially on its velocity. If the nozzle provided for the entry of the gas flow is adjusted for the greatest gas volume, the nozzle aperture is so great for small gas volumes, that the velocity of the gas flow is too low to draw in the air necessary for its combustion. Too little primary air is therefore provided for the gas so Constructions are known in which the tap is so arranged that the gas for the low setting emerges axial to the lower plate (truncated cone), so that the emergent cross-section of the latter corresponds to the special jet for the low setting. The required non-luminous flame is thus obtained with the low setting, but for any higher setting the additional gas flows along this small tube, so that there is a large range between the high setting and the low setting in which, because of insufficient primary air, the flame is not sufliciently non-luminous and incomplete combustion occurs to a substantial extent.

The disadvantages mentioned are overcome according to the invention, by a common valve means, comprising two interconnected devices, which serve to regulate and shut oif the gas supply, of which the first device, which will be termed the volume regulator, shuts off and controls the gas volume and the second device, which will be termed the nozzle regulator and which is connected to the first, serves to control the nozzle aperture in dependence upon the existing entering gas volume. In this way it is possible to adjust the nozzle aperture over the whole regulating range of the variable gas volume, and drawing such an air volume, that a substantially constant proportion of combustible air is produced. This improvement is obtained with quite simple apparatus, without additional gas and air supplies having to be arranged.

Preferably, the volume regulator and the nozzle regulator are arranged in a common casing, to lessen the cost of construction and simplify and reduce the cost of whole construction. In this way a common control of both regulators is provided of a particularly simple kind. The volume regulator and the nozzle regulator according to the invention are arranged on a common spindle. It is preferable to form the volume regulator as a valve, particularly as a poppet type valve where the construction of the valve is taken into account. This valve has the advantage in comparison with the majority of the usual types in that it can be tightened much easier than the disc or other type of ordinary construction.

Preferably, the valve is urged upon its seating by a spring, and the device is enabled to operate only against the action of the spring on the valve. In this way the valve device is not necessarily connected to the volume regulator and the nozzle regulator, so that the valve device does not disadvantageously influence the positions of the two regulators.

It is preferred to provide the nozzle regulator according to the invention with a valve needle, which cooperates with the nozzle aperture. It is thus easily possible for the nozzle spindle to be adjusted so that it enters the shut off position of the nozzle regulator in the nozzle aperture. In this way it is possible to provide a closed position for the nozzle regulator as well as for the volume that a luminous flame with a low flame temperature is produced by the low setting of the closure and control device. Attempts have been made to compensate for this disadvantage by the use of double burners, by which the gas supply for the high setting and for the low setting of theta'p is provided by way of two different outlets and hence a separate nozzle can be provided with a smaller aperture for the low setting. However it is thus necessary to provide separate gas tubes for high and low settings in ovens and heaters.

the valve spindle is regulator with the same valve spindle, without the closed position of one regulator being unfavourably influenced by that of the other.

The common valve spindle according to the invention is operated by means of an eccentric controlled through a shaft, which is rotatably mounted perpendicular to the aXis 'of'the valve spindle. It is preferable that the valve spindle be provided with a disc freely movable along its axis, and the eccentric operates on the outer part of its axis of rotation. In fact in this way the valve means engages the valve spindle eccentrically so that it is not impossible that a substantial retraction of the valve spindle from the two guide means is obtained, so'that an end of completely withdrawn by its movement. It is obvious that the largest aperture of the nozzle regulator is constructed smaller than the largest aperture of the nozzle opening. By closing the volume regulator the valve spindle of the nozzle regulator is drawn into the nozzle aperture, so that the poppet valve of the volume 3 regulator is not influenced by the nozzle regulator being on its seating. The valve spindle of the nozzle regulator is not completely closed in this position, as the gas volume is already shut off by the volume regulator.

Further, according to the invention, an adjustable device is provided between the volume regulator and the nozzle regulator to throttle the gas flow. In this way it is possible to adjust the gas volume for the largest setting of the valve means for existingv conditions. This setting is simple and has no connection with the regulation of the valve.

In the illustrated embodiment the throttling device comprises two discs with apertures, one of which is adjustable and of which the mutual disposition determines the gas aperture due to the greater or less overlapping of the apertures. Preferably the nozzle is provided in one of the apertured discs, whereas the other disc which is rotatable and adjustable relative to the first, carries the guide means for the valve spindle.

In this embodiment the valve spindle does not project into the nozzle aperture at full opening of the volume regulator so that the axial setting of the parts forming the nozzle can be adjusted, without altering the full aperture of the nozzle aperture. A great advantage of the arrangement lies in that this additional control is before the actual nozzle aperture, so that the full pressure does not affect the nozzle aperture. An advantageous lessening of the gas velocity from the nozzle is obtained by this method. It is frequently the case with a mixing tube, that the supply of air is too small to provide the primary air supply. This is because the burner cap of a short mixing tube exerts a steady back pressure, and the gais-air mixture in the mixing tube does not have sufficient time to mix completely. It is preferable in such cases to connect the additional control device, provided between the volume regulator and the nozzle regulator for restriction of the gas supply, directly to the nozzle aperture. For example, two non-circular apertured members may be mutually arranged so that one aperture can be rotated relative to the other. A more or less large overlapping is produced with adjustmentof the nozzle aperture. The full pressure is retained by having such a construction before the nozzle, and thus the gas stream has the highest possible velocity, so that the greatest possible amount of primary air can be drawn in. The size of the nozzle aperture is so dimensioned, in an example, that the greatest gas volume, corresponding to a fully open volume regulator, has a velocity sufficient to draw in the required primary air volume by passage through this opening. With this setting, the valve needle in the example is not drawn into the nozzle opening of the nozzle regulator. The smallest gas volume is obtained by a corresponding setting of the poppet valve of the volume regulator, when the valve needle of the nozzle regulator is drawn into the nozzle aperture, and such an aperture is produced that the resultant gas velocity draws in the primary air volume required for this gas volume. This aperture given in the nozzle opening is also dependent on the aperture determined by the nozzle spindle. The nozzle spindle can be correspondingly shaped, so that an aperture of the nozzle opening is given for each aperture size of the gate valve of the volume regulator, causing such a gas velocity that the required primary air is drawn. in. It is preferable that the mixing tube according to the invention consist of two telescopic relatively movable parts, of which the part nearer to the nozzle is connected to the casing for the nozzle and volume regulator. In this way a satisfactory centering of the burner or mixing tube with respect to the nozzle is obtained, which is essential for the satisfactory operation of the whole burner. The lower part of the mixing tube is thus always coaxial with the seat for the nozzle regulator and the volume regulator. The central position of the upper part of the mixing tube with respect to the lower is satisfactorily produced for the large aperture by the telescopic connection.

In a Preferred smbfldiment 0 t e in entio the m x n tube of the burner is vertical, whereby the nozzle with its regulator and the volume regulator are arranged directly beneath the burner in the same line. In this way the axis of the burner and the axis of the nozzle are always colinear and vertical, which is of great importance for satisfactory combustion.

A burner is thus produced which comprises the, volume regulator, the nozzle regulator, the nozzle and the burner with the mixing tube and which operates satisfactorily and which can be assembled maintaining the required relative positions.

It is preferred to connect the volume regulator with the nozzle, the nozzle regulator and the lower part of the mixing tube in a chamber which depends from an opening in the tray of a stove or cooker, while the upper part of the mixing tube is situated in the tray opening. A satisfactory central position of both parts is assured by the telescopic connection of the upper part of the mixing tube with its lower part. The casing. of the nozzle and volume regulators is preferably provided with a stop for engagement by a movable pin which is operated by the valve handle. This stop is provided for obtaining the lowest setting of the valve. This is especially preferable in order to obviate anymovement of the valve operating means at the low setting, and the subsequent risk of not obtaining a small flame. A second stop is provided for the closed position of the valve. The position of this second stopinsuresthat the valve Will be held in its closed position by the spring without interference by the eccentric actuator.

According to the invention the casing for the volume regulator, the nozzle and the nozzle regulator is directly attachedto a common gas main, while the handle for operation of the regulator is rotatably mounted at the front side of the appliance and is connected to the valve member by means of a rod forming a universal joint. The nozzle regulator is directly connected to the gas main, obviating the arrangement of a special supply tube. Because of the special formation of the movable parts of the valve operating handle the handle can be arranged in practice independently of the position of the valve means at the front side of the heating. or cooking device.

The accompanying drawings show an embodiment of the invention in diagrammatic form. In the drawings:

Fig. I shows a longitudinal section of a gas shut-off and regulating valve according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a view of this valve on a reduced scale for illustration of the manner of its inclusion in a stove. While the valve itself is shown complete, its neighbour.- ing parts and its connecting means are shown in section;

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the valve in Fig. 2 on the same scale, as seen in the direction a-b in Fig. 2;

Fig, 4 shows a section through a guide member used in the embodiment of Figures 1-3;

Fig. 5 shows a view of the guide member seen in the direction cd of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 shows a view of a nozzle member as seen from below, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1-3;

Fig. 7 shows a section along the line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

A valve body or casing l. is provided for the shutaoff and control valve, the lower part of which rests on an hour-glass-shaped clamping plate 2,. A gas entry 3; is provided on the lower side, and its aperture is augmented by four drilled slits 4 which serve for guiding a valve 61. A valve spindle 5 extends away from the gas entry, and is connected to the valve 61. The valve has a conical surface portion 6, which closes off the gas in conjunction with a valve seat 7 provided inside the casing 1 A. seat for the reception of a slotted member ,8 is provided at about the middle of the valve spindle 5, against which the end of a spring 16 presses, the other end of the spring being disposed in a circular seat provided in the valve body 1. This spring serves to urge the conical surface 6 against its seat 7.

In a lateral extension 16 'of the valve body 1, an eccentric shaft 11 is rotatably mounted, by which the valve spindle is operated. The gas sealing thus required is obtained by a spherical surface portion 12 of the eccentric shaft pressing against a conical surface 13 of the valve body. For this purpose an extension of the eccentric shaft grips a spring washer 14 which is retained by the two ends of a band 55', encircling the valve body 1. Corresponding openings in the washer serve for simple and rapid removal of the washer 14 from the band 55.

On the inner front face of the eccentric shaft 11, a pin 15 is arranged in ofiset relation to its axis of revolution, and cooperates with a disc 9 which is freely movable on the face of the slotted member 8. By this means valve 61 is depressed. The pin 15 operates the valve spindle 5 through the intermediary of the disc 9 and against the action of the spring 16 by a corresponding rotation of the eccentric shaft 11, so that this pin rolls to a greater or less extent on the disc 9 and the disc thus moves the slotted member.

On rotation of the eccentric shaft 11, after a predetermined safety travel of about 45, the valve 661 is a opened against the action of the spring 16, and reaches its fully open position at 180. A further turn of 45 in the same direction gives the low setting by a gradual lowering of the valve 661 to its seat 7.

The valve body or casing 1 is subdivided by two large slots or openings 24, where the two parts are connected only by two struts 56. Directly beneath these openings 24 the passage of the valve body is provided with an internal thread, into which a guide member 19 can be screwed. This in turn serves for the reception of a nozzle piece 20. The guide member is provided with a collar or bushing 21, which provides the second point of support for the valve spindle 5.

The upper end of the valve spindle 5 is provided with an approximately cone-shaped needle tip 23, which cooperates with a nozzle opening 22 as hereinafter described, provided at the head of the nozzle.

The guide member 19 with the guide collar 21 is shown in Figures 4 and 5. It has four holes 62 of the same diameter, which are formed in the lower face comprising a ring-shaped rim 57. On the upper edge, a further smaller ring is furnished, which, as further described hereafter, serves for fastening the nozzle head 20, shown in Figures 6 and 7. This nozzle head is furnished as shown with slots 25 in the lower rim, so that only the portions 59 are left. A ring-shaped flange 66 serves for securing the nozzle head 20 in the guide member 19, this flange being placed on the rim 57 of the guide member. After a spring washer 26 has been inserted, the flange 60 of the nozzle head is secured in the guide member with a certain amount of play since the rim 58 is threaded. In this way, the nozzle head 20 can be turned relative to the guide member 19 and is then held in place in the guide head by means of the spring washer 26. The slots 25 in the nozzle head form apertures overlying the holes 62 which form corresponding apertures in the guide member 19. The gas velocity can be adjusted for the high setting by turning the nozzle head relative to the guide member 19, to suit the gas pressure. In the part of the valve body or casing 1 above the openings 24, a tube 28 is screwed in, which can be secured with a lock nut 29 and will subsequently be referred to also as an injector tube. It forms the lower part of the burner or mixing tube. By rotation of the injector tube the free air passage between the upper rim of the nozzle head 20 and the lower rim of the injector tube 28 is determined and adjusted. The upper end of the injector tube has a guide surface 30, on which the burner with the mixing tube is telescopically placed.

Thecasing 1 of the gas valve is screwed to a chamber 32 by means of a hexagonal nut 31. As particularly shown in Figures 2 and 3, chamber 32 is supported from a tray 18.

A thread 33 is provided in the valve body, in which a small set screw is inserted. The guide member 19 is secured by this set screw in the correct position in the valve body 1 and prevented from turning in conjunction with the nozzle opening 22. The valve spindle 5 has a slot 34 at its lower end for a screwdriver, for setting the adjustments between the pin 15, the eccentric shaft 11 and the disc 9. The valve body 1 is preferably made of pressed brass and the remaining parts of brass. The valve spindle is made of a rust-proof material or of steel appropriately case hardened which provides security against corrosion.

The chamber 32 in Figures 2 and 3, to which the gas valve is secured, is fixed to tray 18 in a corresponding opening, and is prevented from turning by two small engaging angles 36. Each angle 36 is secured to the tray 32 by means of a screw 37.

The gas supply enters by the tap tube 38, which is arranged beneath the tray, so that it passes under the mid dle 0f the burner. At this point a saddle 39-is secured to the tap tube 38, for example, by soldering. This saddle piece serves as the seating, joining and fixing means for the gas valve. A washer 40 (for example, of aluminum, copper or vulcanite) is seated in a corresponding recess in the saddle 39. The complete gas valve is secured to the saddle by two screws 41 and a plate 2. In this simple mounting, which enables a very convenient interchanging of the taps, the chamber 32 is secured to the upper side of the gas valve and attached by means of the hexagonal nut 31. The chamber is fixed relative to the valve body by a small bent tongue 42 at the bottom of the chamber '32, which engages a corresponding opening 43 in the valve body 1. The burner 44, with its cast flare plates 45 and the cast bars 46 for supporting cooking utensils is held in position by four ribs 47, which engage four slots 48 in the chamber 32.

The eccentric shaft 11 is provided at its greatest width with a pin 63, which engages a screw 49 in the low setting of the valve. This screw is secured by an arm 50 to the valve body and is fixed against rotation by a spring 51. The screw can be adjusted from above, for which purpose an opening for a screwdriver is provided in the chamber 32. By rotating the screw 49, the position for the low setting can be altered as desired.

The arm 50 is also provided with a second stop surface 64 for the closed position of the valve. This stop surface is engageable by pin 63 when rotated in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 3. Stop surface 64 is so located that eccentric pin 15 must be rotated from the closed position through the safety angle mentioned above before engaging the disk member 89 and therefore opening valve 6. This lost motion insures that valve 6 will be pressed against its valve seat by spring 16 without interference from pin 15, when the valve is turned to its closed position.

The arm 50 is also provided with a second stop surface 64 for the closed position of the valve. is engageable by pin 63 when rotated in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Figure 3. Stop surface 64 is so located that eccentric pin 15 must be rotated from the closed position through the safety angle mentioned above before engaging the disk member 8-9 and therefore opening valve 6. This lost motion insures that valve 6 will be pressed against its valve seat by spring 16 without interference from pin 15, when the valve is turned to its closed position.

The alteration of the setting of the gas valve is effected, for example, by a tube 52, which has a slit 53 in the end engaging a bolt 54. The bolt 54 is secured to the coneshaped end of the eccentric shaft 11. A similar adjustable connection is provided between the other end of the tube 52 and the handle (not shown) with which the gas valve is operated. This non-rigid connection is effective even if the axes of the handle and of the eccentric shaft This stop surface are not aligned so that no tilting of the handle with respect to the valve occurs. I

For the low setting of the valve the gas aperture is lessened by suitably decreasing the aperture between the valve cone 6' and the valve seat 7. The aperture of the nozzle 22 is adjusted for the lesser gas volume, in that the cone shaped tip 23 enters this opening and gives the desired smallest aperture. As the valve cone 6 is gradually removed from the valve seat 7, the gas volume is gradually increased. In a corresponding manner the aperture of the nozzle opening 22 is enlarged by the tip 23 of the valve spindle and the gas volume is thereby adjusted.

For the largest opening of the valve 67 the valve spindle 5 with the tip 23 does not enter the nozzle opening, so that the whole section of the nozzle opening 22 is available for the gas.

By rotation of the nozzle head 2% relative to the guide member 19, the required gas volume can be adjusted for the high setting of the valve to suit the altered gas pressure.

The device of the invention can be adapted to completely different Working conditions. it is possible, for example, to adapt the invention for gases which are used in apparatus at a working pressure of 300-500 mm. water. The valve is quite satisfactory at these g'as pressures. Because of the increased heating value of the gas, a considerably lower gas volume is necessary. Under these conditions, the nozzle head must in general be changed and the valve must be adjusted, which is possible however without especial trouble.

What I claim is:

1. In a device for shutting off and controlling a gassupply for heating, burning and/or cooking purposes, a casing structure with an inlet opening and outlet opening, means for supplying the gas to said casing structure, means for connecting said gas supply with the casing structure ear its inlet opening, means for shutting off and controlling the gas in the casing structure between its inlet and its outlet opening, said means including two valves arranged on a single spindle, one of said valves being situated near the inlet opening of the casing structure and being formed as a poppet type valve, the other of said valves being adapted to control the outlet opening of such casing structure, said spindle being axially movable between a position of greater gas supply and a position of smaller gas supply, rotatable actuating means common to both valves, means for limiting the rotation of such means in both directions to an amount not exceeding 360" the position for the smaller gas supply being reached by turning such means in the same direction after having reached the position for the greater gas supply in this direction, a stop engaging said actuating means to define said smaller gas supply position, means for directing the gas jet emanating from the outlet opening to a burner, and means for connecting the orifice of said outlet opening with the open air to' be entrained by the gas jet.

2. A device according to claim 1, further provided with a spring for urging said valves toward their seated positions, said actuating means acting against said spring to open said valves.

3. A device according to claim 1, said out-let valve com- 8 prising a needle valve, said outlet opening including a nozzle aperture controlled by said needle valve.

4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that by full opening of said outlet valve, said needle valve no longer enters the nozzle aperture.

5. A device according to claim 1, said actuating means comprising an eccentric controlled through a shaft which is rotatably mounted perpendicular to the axis of the valvespindle.

6. A device according to claim 5, said valve-spindle being provided with a disc freely rotatable on its axis, said eccentric operating on the outer part of said'disc.

7. A device according to claim 1, said valve spindle being further provided with a pair of axially spaced guides, said actuating means engaging said spindle between said guides.

8. A device according to claim 1, further provided with an adjustable throttling device between said inlet and outlet valves.

9. A device according to claim 8, said adjustable throttling device comprising two discs with apertures, one of which is movable and the mutual disposition of which determines the gasaperture due to the greater or less overlapping of the apertures.

10. A device according to claim 9, further provided with a nozzle in one of the apertured discs, the other disc' being rotatable and adjustable relative to the first disc and carrying guide-means for the valve-spindle.

ll. A device according to claim 1, said stop being further provided with an adjustable member for changing the smallest gas supply setting.

12. A device according to Claim 1, further provided with a burner having a mixing tube, meanssecuring said mixing tube to said casing, a handle for operation of the device adapted to be rotatably mounted at the front side of an appliance, and a rod having a universal joint for connecting said handle to said actuating means.

13. A device according to claim 1, further provided with a burner, a mixing tube in the burner consisting of two telescopic relatively movable parts, of which thenearer' to said outlet valve is axially adjustably connected to said casing, and means for supporting said second part of said burner tube with respectto said casing.

14. A device according to claim 13, characterized in that the mixing-tube of the burner is vertical, said valves being directly beneath said mixing-tube on the same axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

